Principal
Consider for a moment how much has changed in the space of a week. Industries shut down overnight. State borders closed. All manner of social gatherings limited in numbers. You could add to this list.
Seemingly, COVID-19 has also changed our concept of time. Decisions need to be made more quickly. Some timeframes shortened unbelievably, others extended to an unknown endpoint. Many are working under intense time pressures. Others now have more time on their hands than they could have conceived of just a few weeks or even days ago.
In moving to learning@home our teachers have taken on a project in the past three weeks that, in ordinary times, we would have given some years to plan and implement. No doubt, all sorts of industries and organisations have been forced to change their timeframes. COVID-19 has required us to be resourceful, creative and to solve problems that have arisen overnight. Our teachers have done this while continuing to operate school in the regular ways. Wednesday was an important opportunity to advance the development of learning@home and more teachers across the school will expand the trial with their classes in what remains of the term. Learning@home will be fully operational at Nudgee College for the start of next term but we are not there yet. Parents have already received information on this project and we will continue to update and inform you of just what this means for you as a parent and your son as a student.
Understandably, the number of students absent from school has continued to increase and while the Government has been saying school is in, parents are making a different decision. This situation is untenable and I am thankful that Queensland authorities have decided this week to end schooling for the term and enable teachers to fully focus on further curriculum development next week. The school has been in solidarity with other schools in the Catholic sector who have also been attempting to remain in alignment with the Government sector. I will advise parents of the details for end of term in the weekly COVID-19 update.
While the virus is a health issue it is now also having a devastating effect economically. Overnight businesses have closed and people have become unemployed. Our parent body is not immune to that impact. Even in more normal circumstances I know many of our families make significant sacrifices to send their children to our school and every day we strive to deliver the highest quality education and pastoral care for all students. As ever, any family facing financial difficulty for any reason should contact our Credit Manager, Mr Jeff O'Sullivan, in the first instance to discuss your situation. We are acutely aware of the hardships being experienced right across the community and we will do all we can to facilitate the ongoing education of all students.
Finally, I share with you the news of the passing of long term staff member Ms Wilma Peters. Wilma had operated the canteen on the Flats during Cricket, Rugby and Football seasons over many years. Due to ill-health Wilma has not been as present in recent times as she once had been and therefore she may be unknown by newer members of the community. Wilma always made an impression on those who met her. It would be fair to say, and not disrespectful of Wilma, that this impression was not always favourable. She was often cranky and called a spade a shovel. But she loved Nudgee College and her faithful service at the Flats was her way of honouring a commitment given years ago.
I share with you, in part, an email received early this week about Wilma from her family.
As you would be aware, Wilma was diagnosed with bowel cancer a few years ago. She underwent chemotherapy, radium therapy and surgery in an effort to rid herself of the disease but unfortunately this was unsuccessful and it later spread throughout her body…
Wilma was in and out of hospital in the past year but around six weeks ago she was admitted to the Prince Charles Palliative Care Ward…
Those who knew Wilma, would know she was a very stubborn and determined woman. Even while ill and in her last days she still managed to give the nurses a hard time, bossing them around and telling them that they “are not doing it right” or that they “didn’t know what they were doing”. The only nurses that she liked were the ones that knew how to handle her humour and give it back in return...
I would like to specifically thank members of the Property and Services team for coming to visit. These visits really were the highlight of her days and she very much appreciated the flowers and all the video messages from ‘her boys’. Wilma would sit and play these videos over and over because she loved her Nudgee College family more than anything else…
When Wilma started to feel the effects of her illness, she really struggled to come to terms with the fact she could no longer go to Nudgee. She wanted to be there more than anything but her poor body just couldn’t do it. The hardest thing for her to come to terms with was, the realisation she had to give this away. During her last days she even said “if I could be there now I would be”, along with a smile. When the Flats facility was named after her, she thought it was the best thing that ever happened to her. It was truly meaningful as she loved everything Nudgee College stood for and often talked about her plaque.
Wilma Peters passed away shortly before 2.00pm on Saturday 21 March 2020. I understand that there may be people that would like to say goodbye and that general expectation is for a funeral, but even though Wilma was a big personality, she was still a very private person and as such did not want a funeral or service, she was quite content with the way it was and she would like you to remember her the way she was and know you were all very special to her.
I have often said that Nudgee College has a big story, but within that story there are countless smaller, inspiring stories of people from different walks of life. They embrace Nudgee College and Nudgee College embraces them. Wilma’s story is one of those smaller stories. Wilma was one of the 10,000 others who cared and supported the 10,000 brothers.
In the final days of her life I made a promise to Wilma that I intend to honour. That is that the Flats canteen, when it is eventually redeveloped in the years to come, will always be named in her honour. May Wilma’s spirit always look over those who visit and play on the Flats. May she rest in peace.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal